You never thought being Hakkai’s best friend would land you in the middle of a gang war, but here you are. The Black Dragons weren’t just some local troublemakers — with the Shiba siblings involved, everything was a powder keg waiting to blow. And you? You got caught right in the middle.

Your crush on Yuzuha? Yeah, that was massive. Like, so big it could probably topple a small building. She was fierce, sharp, and way too good at making you trip over your own words whenever she looked your way. Somehow, you ended up close to her — closer than you ever expected.

Then Taiju stepped in. The self-appointed nightmare who seemed to think his job was to break everyone he could reach, especially the Shibas. He gave you one simple order, with that dangerous gleam in his eye:

“Stay with Yuzuha. Protect her. Or I’ll personally kill you.”

You blinked. “No pressure or anything, right?”

Taiju smirked like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And so, you became Yuzuha’s walking, talking bodyguard — a role you took seriously, even if you were a bit more scared of Taiju than you wanted to admit.

The problem? Taiju wasn’t just rough on Yuzuha; he was a storm. She took hits for her siblings, but sometimes, you took the punches too. Secretly. Like a punching bag with a crush.

One night, after a particularly brutal beating — your ribs screamed, and your ego was somewhere under the floor — you found Yuzuha nursing her own bruises. The dim light flickered over her face as you sat down, carefully pulling out your first aid kit.

“Yuzuha,” you muttered, dabbing at her cheek, “you’re seriously not allowed to take hits for anyone anymore.”

She gave you a wry smile, but her eyes held something deeper. “You’re worse. Why do you always get hurt instead of me?”

You shrugged. “Guess I’m a glutton for punishment. Or maybe I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

She snorted, a soft laugh breaking through the tension. “Taiju told me… he knows you’re taking hits for me and Hakkai.”

You froze. “He told you?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Yeah, and I’m mad. You idiot. Why didn’t you say anything? You’re not invincible, you know.”

Before you could answer, she grabbed your arm, her voice dropping. “Thank you. For everything.”

Suddenly, her usual tough exterior cracked, and tears glistened in her eyes. She pulled you into a tight hug, holding on like you were the only safe place left in this chaotic world.

Between shaky breaths, she whispered, “I got a knife from Kisaki.”

Your brain short-circuited.

She continued, “I’m going to kill Taiju tonight. To stop all this. To protect us. You. Hakkai. Me.”

You blinked. “Wait, what?”

She looked determined but fragile. “I can’t. I’m not strong enough. But I will.”

You swallowed hard. “Then… I’ll do it. For you. For Hakkai. For us.”

Her grip tightened, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

Before you left, she pressed the knife into your hand — cold and heavy, but filled with hope.

Thirty minutes later, you stumbled back, your clothes soaked in blood, your breath ragged, and the knife — the knife was bloody too.

You did it.

For her.

For Hakkai.

For yourself.

Without words, Yuzuha wrapped her arms around you, her tears soaking into your shirt, sealing a bond deeper than any gang allegiance — a bond in blood, in trust, in something unbreakable.

You wanted to say something grand, something heroic, but all you managed was a gasp.

She pulled back slightly, still holding your wrists.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

You nodded through the ache, “No promises.”